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French energy company TotalEnergies has signed two major solar power agreements with Google to supply electricity to data centres in Texas, marking a significant expansion in renewable energy procurement. The deals, announced Monday, will deliver 1 gigawatt of solar capacity from TotalEnergies facilities in Texas, providing approximately 28 terawatt-hours of renewable power over a 15-year period. Construction on the two solar sites is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of this year.
According to Marc-Antoine Pignon, TotalEnergies’ vice president for U.S. renewables, these agreements represent the largest volume of renewable power purchase agreements the company has ever signed in the United States. The solar installations will be owned and operated by TotalEnergies, with power specifically directed to Google’s growing network of data centres in the region.
TotalEnergies Positions Itself in AI-Driven Energy Market
The solar power deals reflect TotalEnergies’ strategy to capitalize on surging electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence infrastructure. Data centres powering AI applications require massive amounts of energy, creating new opportunities for renewable energy suppliers in key markets. Additionally, the French oil major has distinguished itself from other major petroleum companies by maintaining significant investments in renewable energy projects alongside traditional gas-fired power plants.
TotalEnergies has strategically focused its power business expansion in deregulated markets where price volatility creates attractive trading opportunities. The ERCOT market in Texas, where these solar facilities will operate, represents one of the largest deregulated electricity markets in the United States. This approach allows the company to benefit from both renewable energy generation and power trading activities.
Building on Existing Google Partnership
This announcement builds upon an existing relationship between TotalEnergies and Google in the renewable energy sector. TotalEnergies already indirectly supplies power to Google through its 50 percent stake in Clearway, a California-based renewables company. Clearway recently signed agreements worth 1.2 gigawatts to supply data centres across three U.S. power markets, according to company statements.
Meanwhile, Google continues to aggressively pursue renewable energy sources to power its expanding data centre operations. Will Conkling, Google’s director of clean energy and power, emphasized the regional benefits of the agreement in a statement. He noted that the partnership adds necessary new generation to the local electrical system, increasing the amount of affordable and reliable power available to serve the entire region.
Renewable Power Supply Addresses Growing Infrastructure Needs
The scale of these solar power agreements underscores the massive energy requirements of modern AI infrastructure. However, the deals also reflect broader corporate commitments to renewable energy as technology companies face increasing scrutiny over their environmental impact. Data centres have become significant consumers of electricity as AI applications and cloud computing services expand globally.
In contrast to some competing oil majors that have scaled back renewable investments, TotalEnergies has maintained its commitment to diversifying its energy portfolio. The company’s dual focus on renewable energy and gas-fired generation positions it to serve multiple segments of the evolving energy market. Additionally, its presence in Texas allows TotalEnergies to leverage the state’s abundant solar resources and favorable regulatory environment for renewable projects.
The two solar facilities are expected to begin construction in the second quarter of 2025, with commercial operations to follow. However, TotalEnergies has not disclosed specific completion timelines or additional details about the exact locations of the Texas solar sites that will supply Google’s data centres.
